New Riverside Park on Western Avenue

Since adopting the masterplan, Test Valley Borough Council has been working with a team of renowned landscape, highways, and ecological specialists, to deliver on the community’s aspirations for more green space in the town centre. A new Riverside Park will open up new views of the River Anton, which is currently hidden by the large expanse of tarmac along Western Avenue.

By changing the road layout and creating a space for inviting landscapes and accessible pathways along the river, the changes will help to foster a seamless connection between the western side of the town, the river, Town Mills park and the new The Lights theatre.

And by weaving past with present, the riverside park’s beautifully crafted designs grant a glimpse into the area’s rich history, which was once used for growing watercress.

There will be spaces for events and food and coffee stalls, fostering community interaction and celebration. A path will meander through the site dotted with seating, welcoming people to rest and reflect. There will also be innovative play elements to enjoy and inspire, providing opportunities for recreation and discovery. All while showcasing the town’s picturesque watercourse, which will be extended and enriched with new planting, creating thriving habitats and enhancing the new park’s natural beauty.

A planning application was submitted in May 2025 and granted consent in September 2025 - 25/01047/FULLN

An application to stop up the highway in order to facilitate the creation of the new riverside park has been submitted to the Department for Transport for consideration and is pending a decision.  Further information on the proposed changes to the highway network were shown at a public exhibition in March 2025.

You can view and download the public exhibition boards by clicking here, or on the image, below:

This project is part funded by the £18.3m awarded by the UK Government to Test Valley Borough Council to regenerate Andover town centre.